compré
“compré” means “I bought” in Spanish (past action of purchasing).
I bought
Also: I purchased
📝 In Action
Ayer compré pan fresco en la panadería.
A1Yesterday I bought fresh bread at the bakery.
¿Qué te compré para tu cumpleaños?
A2What did I buy you for your birthday?
Compré el libro que me recomendaste la semana pasada.
A2I bought the book you recommended to me last week.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: compré
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'compré'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The verb 'comprar' comes from the Vulgar Latin word *comparāre*, which meant 'to prepare' or 'to procure/obtain'. Over time, its meaning narrowed specifically to obtaining something through payment.
First recorded: 13th century (in its current form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'compré' and 'compraba'?
'Compré' (Preterite) is used for a single, finished action in the past: 'I bought a shirt yesterday.' 'Compraba' (Imperfect) is used for repeated actions, descriptions, or ongoing background actions in the past: 'I used to buy shirts every month.'
Why does 'compré' need an accent mark?
The accent mark is required to stress the final syllable, which is characteristic of the 'yo' form in the simple past (Preterite) for most -ar verbs. Without it, the word would sound like a different verb form.